By Dumisani Ndlovu
Harare – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has challenged Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states to transform their education systems, moving away from colonial-era architectures that hinder industrialization.
He made this call during a public lecture at the University of Zimbabwe, titled “Building Research Capacity and Innovation Ecosystems for a Sustainable Industrialized SADC Economy.”
The lecture preceded the 44th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, set to take place in Harare. The SADC regional body has an industrialization strategy aimed at leveraging diverse resources for sustainable economic and social development through beneficiation and value addition.
President Mnangagwa emphasized the need for an education framework that produces innovators and industrialists equipped with skills to develop products meeting the needs of SADC citizens. Zimbabwe has adopted Heritage Education 5.0, which aims to unlock maximum value from natural resources and human capacities. This framework has led to the establishment of innovation hubs, industrial parks, science parks, and incubation centers across higher education institutions.
The country has also increased teacher training colleges producing science teachers, ensuring all schools offer science and ICT training. This has broadened the pool of students transitioning to colleges and universities, building a critical mass of scientists and technologists for an innovation-led economy.
President Mnangagwa highlighted the successes of this transformative education system, citing emerging innovations, patents, and start-up companies producing relevant goods and services. He noted that SADC has unique opportunities to become an economic powerhouse, endowed with a rich resource base, resilient people, and vast arable land.
“Leveraging our combined resource endowments and human capacities, the region must emerge as a competitive economic bloc with the requisite capabilities to produce a wide array of goods and services,” he said.
The President also emphasized the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing among SADC member states. By working together, the region can accelerate industrialization and economic growth, creating a brighter future for its citizens.
As SADC leaders gather for their summit, they would do well to heed President Mnangagwa’s call to action. By transforming their education systems and embracing innovation, they can unlock the region’s full potential and create a sustainable, industrialized economy for generations to come.
